JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonWatchmen (2009) - Trailer Included
October 22nd 2009 00:00
The Extra Dimension to the Portrait of a Superhero
Watchmen DVD - Available in Australia
Director: Zack Snyder
Writers: David Hayter and Alex Tse
Starring: Billy Cruddup, Patrick Wilson, Malin Akerman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jackie Earle Hayley, Mathew Goode, Carla Gugino, Matt Frewer (Dawn of the Dead), Stephen Mchattie
“Rorschach's Journal: October 12th, 1985. Tonight, a comedian died in New York.” - Rorschach
Based on the idiosyncratic Graphic Novel by Alan Moore, The Watchmen is possibly the most esoteric of all superhero films. Deemed unfilmable by the ever imaginative Terry Gilliam back in a pre CGI 1989, passing through several hands including Darren Aronofsky and Paul Greengrass before docking in the palm of Zack Snyder. The Watchmen’ s history of getting to the big screen is as much a struggle as any cinema venture ever has been.
The much lauded and revolutionary Watchmen comic forms its mighty spine around caped avengers being treated as human beings in a real world of ambiguous motivations.
Subverting the genre and deconstructing the myth. What kind of a normal person dons a costume and fights crime? The answer is no normal person. These are dark vigilantes, deluded souls and all of them have serious psychological disorders. There are no distinct lines between good and evil, right and wrong, hero and villain.
Cleverly rewriting history in the process the story takes place in a “parallel universe” 1985. In this timeline Nixon has been in power for 5 terms, Watergate never happened and the audience knows who assassinated JFK. Tricky Dicky has banned all superheroes and is faced with the threat of nuclear Armageddon from the Russians.
The murder/mystery plot opens with the brutal, balletic death of The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) by an unknown assassin. Rorschach realizes immediately that one of his own is gone and begins an obsessive search for the truth along the way recruiting other ex heroes and forcing some to ponder their choices.
The original Minutemen
There is Nite Owl II (Patrick Wilson), an inheritance rich geek deluded by idol worship who fights crime using expensive technology like Archie, his mechanical flying vehicle.
Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman) is driven by serious mummy issues and is suffering an identity crisis as she uses her sexy figure as a weapon.
Rorschach (Jackie Earle Hayley) is a rage filled sociopath who only understands violence and leaves a trail of bloody carnage wherever he goes.
“I heard a joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life is harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says, "But doctor... I am Pagliacci." Good joke. Everybody laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains.” - Rorscach
The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is a bigoted, racist happiest when taking lives and not opposed to raping and enjoying his work too much.
Olympidius (Matthew Goode) is the smartest man in the world with lighting fast reflexes. Cashing in on the fame afforded a hero, billionaire genius Ozymandias comes with questionable morality impaired by brutal logic.
“We can do so much more. We can save this world... with the right leadership.” - Ozymandias
The only one of the bunch with true Super powers is Dr Manhattan (Billy Cruddup). Arguably the most powerful being in any comic book universe he can manipulate all physical matter at a molecular level, experience his lifespan of time in non linear sequence and teleport. This omnipotent control and his scientifically wired brain have him detaching from humanity.
Rorschach finds his motivation
John Doe says:
Startling CG FX are used in a nontraditional narrative structure to make the Watchmen as much a character piece as a grandly designed commentary on our self destructive nature. Jumping back and forth in time the main story is interspersed with graphic background or origin stories that give perspective on current events.
Zack Snyder directs The Comedian
In truth the whole film has a streak of a mischievous 13 year old eager for audience reaction. Sex scenes are glossy and seem to come out of a Playboy shoot, but isn’t that fitting for a pair of split personality sufferers dressed in latex who decide on mutual penetration within a giant owl ship above the city? The violence and carnage is equally excessive, the filmmakers seem to be having too good of a time making it appear on screen, there’s a streak of Paul Verhoven (Robocop, Starship Troopers) in this boy me thinks.
The script was always going to be a tough hone and David Hayter (X Men 2) and Alex Tse do a pretty admirable job. There is substance to be found in their loyal adaptation of the cantankerous Alan Moore source. Sure the ending is changed, but it works for the medium. The “Black Freight” sub plot was not needed in the big picture way and the film would have been about 4 hours long with it all back in.
Those unfamiliar with the original may struggle to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but if you pay attention it is clear. The comic was presented in a similar order and never gave all the answers either making it equally thoughtful.
The acting is variable from the excellent to the abysmal. As the Edward Blake/Comedian Jeffery Dean Morgan (Taking Woodstock, Weeds) is vibrant and charismatic embracing all his characters faults (and there are many) to make a very entertaining performance.
Former child star Jackie Earle Hayley (Breaking Away, Bad news Bears, Little Children, Remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street ) is a violent, ticking-time-bomb presence that makes us feel Walter Kovacs/Rorschach’s ceaseless rage.
In the part of Dr. Manhattan / Jon Osterman actor/computer tracking device Billy Cruddup (Jesus Son, Waking the Dead, Almost Famous) had the thankless task of giving a god genuine emotions. Limited by the fact Dr Manhattan is a completely CGI creation, there are only two scenes where we actually see the unaltered actor.
Patrick Wilson (Hard Candy, Little Children) plays Nite Owl II with appropriately gawky competence. The Mr-Nice-Guy of the bunch still manages to interest next to the more intriguing members.
Sure Malin Akerman (Entourage) looks great in her Silk Spectre II costume but she is certainly the weak link where performance is questioned. Occasionally showing potential, but mostly she seems self conscious and fake in the more demanding scenes and other times is just wooden and disappears. Maybe it the urge to see what Carla Gugino (Sin City) would have looked like in that skin tight disguise that makes this verdict.
Incidentally Carla does bring the damaged melancholy of Silk Spectre I and sells the aging make up. Matthew Goode (The Lookout, Match Point) as Adrien Veidt /Ozymandias encompasses the quintessential superhero type ala Superman in looks while gleefully exposing the darker side of the propaganda image.
John Doe agrees Watchmen is not a perfect film, but it is a fantastic comic book experience for those sick of by the numbers big budget predictability and sentimentality. There is something very fresh feeling about competent adult subversion of the genre. Compared to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and V for Vendetta this is the first worthwhile interpretation of Alan Moore’s seminal work. Remembering to have fun while captivating with cunning awareness, the kids had The Incredibles (which John Doe loves) and the big kids get Watchmen, it is that simple.
Trailer for The Watchmen
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I enjoyed the graphic violence, and yes, definitely a Verhoeven-esque element at play there.
So what's in the director's cut??
Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Still haven't read the source material which probably doesn't help but still looking forward to what Snyder does in future. I loved his Dawn of the Dead remake - and yes, even 300!!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
i purposefully refused to mention the manhattan's blue meanie because frankly enough has been already said about it.
The Director's cut runs about 25 minutes longer with extra scenes from the comic. The ultimate edition due out shortly has all the DC stuff plus the Black Freighter subplot intercut...runs about 3 and a half hours.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Totally agree Malin Akerman failed to show any acting ability in this.
Certainly a love it or hate it kind of film, personally I enjoyed the loyalty shown the source, but agree it could drag if your not entrenched in each scene like I was.
Spending 2 and a half hours with these characters wasn't a big ask for me...and Rorschach and Comedian were both rivetting players in the mysterious plot.
Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I do think that more so than previous films this one benefits from an affinity with the source. No excuse though if the narrative or characters don't work in a cinematic medium.
Personally i think Snyder retained the philosophical depth of the premise and Dr Manhattan's reality, but certainly understand your view. Impressive visuals alone are not enough to captivate if your not invested in the story.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I really thought that the V for Vendetta movie was devoid of the intellect in the graphic novel. I was disappointed in the script pacing and the way the action scenes were framed and edited annoyed me. The only thing I did like was Natalie Portman's performance, found zero threat or element of danger in the way V was portrayed.
In the end V just felt so derivative that it had that whole "seen it all done better" vibe....maybe its because i love the dystopian nightmare framework that I have very high expectations.
I assume we can agree that LXG was indefensibly terrible, on any scale?
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
And what has been said about the good doctor's schlong? It looks as if he's Jewish.
Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
i really liked the opening sequence, and Malin looked fantastic, but it just seemed to be wandering and essentially i thought the morals they were deciding to push were questionable
Comment by Always Eighteen
Always Eighteen
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
i think that the shady morality is part of the point. There are no real heroes in the real world, in order to conquer evil you must go beyond truth into the grey area of vigilante.
That being said, it is still a film with faults and the "wandering" claim is appropriate...
Thanks as always for dropping by.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
So you like the graphic novel, have you seen the film?
Would be curious to read what you think.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
yeah i understand the characters were intended to be flawed, but in the end they were all basically nodding their heads going "yes the ends justify the means", which is nothing like the values of reality
we get a slight look of disapproval from Patrick Wilson, but altogether not much of a protest
everyone kind of just shrugs and goes oh well its done now, it smacks of the defeatism and resignation that allows mass murder to be regarded as acceptable
i think the director presented the events as though he supported them, there was no ambiguity or open-endedness in the conclusion, or even a variety of view-points, or any substantial remorse or dissent
*hops down off soap-box*
well thats how it seemed to me
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Being the cynic I am I see that despite my own idealism those with the power will always remove emotion and go with the logic that " The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" (sorry for the Star Trek quote there)...a sad comment on duality of human truth that I don't like, but see everyday. To end the film another way would have defeated its themes IMO.
It is ironic that the only one who doesn't accept this conclusion is the sociopath Rorschach in the film and we know how that worked out for him...at least the truth got out in his journal.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
stories that are afraid of the future dont sit well with me, and yes No Country For Old Men, im talking about you
the Rorschach storyline was a bit easier to relate to, he could have been a character out of Sin City
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
As much as i would love to be optimistic about the future it seems we are destined to destroy instead of create...I admire your ability to still be able to believe in the best of human kind...not that my emotiobnal self wishes it true the logical part of my brain does the math and so I find it hard to believe in "happy ending" fiction on the subject....that's not to say the "ohh we are all doomed" scenario isn't a cliche in the arts, but an easy one to swallow and surrender to when reading/viewing.
It seems we are both coming from the same place in out "hopes for the future" just that I still can't "believe", just hope.
Totally agree on the being able to realate to "Rorschach and his "sin city" character. Scary that he is the most violent and hate filled of all the Watchmen. Ruled by negative emotions.
Always a pleasure chatting Morgan.